Ashkun

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A language of Afghanistan

ISO 639-3
ask
Alternate Names
Ashkund, Ashkuni, Wamais, Wamayi
Population

40,000 (2011), increasing. 4,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 40,000.

Location

Nuristan Province, Pech Valley in Wama District, eastern side of the Lower Alingar Valley in Nurgaram and Duab districts, Malil wa Mushfa, Titin, Kolatan and Bajagal valleys.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Nuristani
Dialects

Ashuruviri (Kolata, Titin Bajaygul), Gramsukraviri, Suruviri (Wamai). Not intelligible with the other Nuristani languages.

Language Use

All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Most also speak Northern Pashto [pbu].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Poetry.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ashkun
Writing
Unwritten.
Other Comments

Spoken in the central and western Nuristan valleys, which also divide divergent dialects. Muslim.